As gas prices hit another record, lawmaker’s effort to ease pain at the pump quickly gets denied

NORWOOD, Mass. — Another day. Another record in gas prices. The price of regular unleaded jumped five cents overnight to $4.35 a gallon in Massachusetts. With gas prices consistently rising, some republican lawmakers wanted to temporarily eliminate the state gas tax.

Spencer Republican Rep. Peter Durant wanted to suspend the state’s gas tax until prices fell below $3.70 a gallon. The state collects 24 cents per gallon. On top of that, we pay about 18 cents a gallon in federal gas tax. Some federal lawmakers have been talking about halting that tax for the remainder of the year. That would equate to a savings of 42 cents a gallon. But don’t get too excited---none of that is happening right now.

It’s still under discussion on the federal level and on the state level, democratic lawmakers already shot down the idea. They’re calling the move a stunt and say they want to look at real relief for families. The state’s gas tax revenue pays for transportation projects and fixing roads. They argue by pausing the gas tax, it could put future projects in jeopardy.

Instead, democrats want to look into potential price gouging at the pump. They also want to look at some type of relief for home heating oil and gas.

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